Homer lee



. (No Model.) v

H. LEE.

NUMBERING DEVICE. No. 352,137. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.v

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grcssive numbering-machines the arbitrary- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I-IOMER LEE, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

NUMBERING DEVICE..

SPECIFICATON forming pari: of Letters Patent No. 352,137l dated November9, 1886.

Application filed May 26, i884.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, HoMER LEE, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city, county, andState of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Numbering Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to numbering-machines of that class in which aseries of disks with numbers on their peripheries are mounted in a heador support, and are provided with means for changing the numbers on theprinting-line in any given order or sequence; and it consists in meanswhereby some arbitrary character or mark may be placed or printed at oneside or sides or ends of a numbel, so that the number may not be changedby adding other figures ateither side or end ot' the series of iigures,the construction being such that the position of such arbitrarycharacters may be automatically changed to allow additional figures tobe added to the printing series. Heretofore it has been the practice toplace some such arbitrary character at either side or end of the numbersof bank-notes, the` amount of checks, dto., but to do this in pro`characterprinting device has been fixed] y secured. thereto, renderingit necessary to print ciphers or naughts before the smaller numbers andbetween them and the rst sign or character; or the characterprintingdevice had to be moved by hand from a fixed position and set farther toone side to admit of another numbering-wheel or printing device to bebrought into use.

In some perforating stamps for checks, die., the arbitrary character hasbeen placed upon each ofthe type wheels or bars, so that any amountcould be punched with the mark or character at bot-h sides; but thesewere not capable of automatic action, as the dies have to be setarbitrarily for each amount.

My invention overcomes these objections, as by the use of my improvednumberinghead any number from 1 to the highest capable of being printedby the dies or wheels can be stamped between the arbitrary characters,and as the numbers increase the arbitrary charac ters are caused to takea position farther apart Serial No 132,847. (No model.)

automatically, yto allow of the introduction of another ligure or seriesor row of iigures.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which show one manner oi'embodying my invention in an ordinary progressive numbering-head, Figurel is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side View, partly in section. Fig. 3 is aside view of a modified form. Figs. 4- and 5 are details; and Fig. 6shows three sets of figures with the characternumber at one end and anarbitrary character at the other end of each, as illustrative oi" thecharacter of work that maybe done by my improved head.

Supported in any suitable frame or stand-r ard, A, are a series of disksor wheels, B, seven being shown in this instance, having type or dies Oupon their peripheries for printing numbers or other signs, and thesedisks or wheels are adapted to be moved in any progressive series ororder by any suitable and wellknown means, that shown being a lever, D,which may be worked by hand or power, carrying a suitable pawl engagingwith ratchetteeth on the side or arbor of one of the disks or wheels B,and suitable means being provided in a weltkuown manner for causing thesuccessive wheels to be engaged and rotated step by step as thenumbering progresses. Such constructions are too well known to needspecific illustration or description here, as they form no part of mypresent invention.

To one side of the case or frame ofthe numbering head or device issecured a projection, E, having a slot or channel, F, of any desiredconstruction, in which is placed a slide, G, adapted to be movedtherein. Upon the face of this slide is a projection or head, H, uponwhich is engraved or -otherwise formed or secured adie or stamp adaptedto print the arbitrary f character desired before the series of numbersto be printed. It is evident that the character may be separate from theslide and attached in any well-known Way, ,so that a single slide may beused for a number of different characters@ Any suitable means may beused for guiding and propelling the slide F, that in Fig. l consistingof a bar, G', secured at the end of the slide, having pins G2 projectinginto holes in the side of the numbering-head frame A,

which serve to guide and hold the slide in proper position, a coiledspring, G3, attached to the bar G and to the frame, causing the slide tobear against the numbering wheels or disks, as shown.

In Figs. 3 and 5 the projection E is shown as having a dovetailed slotor channel,in which the slide nieves, and a lug, n, extends below theprojection, upon which bears a spring, o,-

having means for adjusting its pressure, in this instance consisting ofa screw and nut, p q.

Each of the wheels or disks, except possibly the units-disk, has a slot,I, cut in its periphery, preferably between the naught or cipher and theiigure I, and this slot is of a size and depth sufficient to allow theslide G to move freely and snugly therein. The edge 1'/ of the slot onthe side next to the figure l is beveled or cut away, as shown. Theforward edge of the slide G is also preferably beveled or cut away, asshown at g, so that it will present an inclined surface to the edge i ofthe slot when being operated thereby.

As the mark or character at the end of a line of figures next to theunits-number always occupies the same relative position, the die orstamp M, in this instance having a representation of a five-pointedstar, is preferably permanently secured to the side of the frame A byany well-known means-as a screw or other locking device, as this onlyhas to be changed when the die is worn or a. different design isdesired.

The operat-ion of the device will be readily understood from the above.Supposing the arbitrary character desired at the end of the series offigures to be in the form of a tivepointed star, as shown in Fig. l,such a die or stamp is secured in the frame in the manner set forth. Ifthe arbitrary character before the ijgures is to be theletters N o, forinstance, as shown, a slide, G, having such a character on its face, isinserted in the channel F, and through the slots I in the wheels up tothe unitsdisk, for instance. If the numbering commencc at l and proceedprogressively upward, the handle D is operated at or after cachimpression to move the type-disk step by step, and when the next disk isto be brought into printing operation it is moved, and as it progressesthe inclined edge of the slot I impinges upon the incline g of the slideG, and

forces said slide outward until the said wheel can turn opposite theslide to take a printing position, the remaining wheels being locked inposition by the slide. The same operation takes place when the nextwheel is brought into printing position, and so throughout the series.It will thus be seen that any series of numbers may be printed from l tothe highest number possible-from the dies used, and each number willhave the arbitrary character immediately before and after the igu res,and that the changes will all be effected automatically.

Various modifications of the means for carrying out the invention willbe apparent, and I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do notlimit myself to the construction shown, as that simply illustrates onepractical way of carrying out my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination,with a series of numbering-disks of a numbering-head, of a carrieradapted to hold a printed character, and means, substantially asdescribed, for altering the position of the same as each disk is broughtinto printing position, as set forth.

2. The combination, in a printing-head, of a series of disks, eachhaving a transverse slot, aslide carryinga printing-character and guidedto slide in said slot when in line therewith, and means, substantiallyas described, for carrying the Slide out of each slot as the diskprovided with said slot is brought into printing position.

3. The combination of the printing -disk having slots with bevelededges, a slide carrying a printing-character provided with a bevelededge, and a spring arranged to press the slide inward, substantially asdescribed.

4. rlhe combination, in a printing-head, of a series of notched disks, aguide, a lslide in said guide carrying al printingcharacter, a guidedcross-bar attached to said slide, and a spring, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. v

HOHER LEE.

Witnesses:

S. VOLF, F. L. FREEMAN.

